Lady Knights stay atop the Northwest Conference, down Paulding

Crestview’s Kirstin Hicks passes the ball to a teammate in a game against Paulding at Ray Etzler Gymnasium Thursday. The Lady Knights picked up a 61-33 win. (Times Bulletin/Tina Eley)

BY SEAN LAFONTAINE

Times Bulletin Correspondent

sports@timesbulletin.com

CONVOY - The Crestview Lady Knights hosted the Paulding Lady Panthers Thursday night in conference action. The Lady Knights used a big second quarter to pull away from the Paulding on their way to a 61-33 victory.

The Lady Knights started off the game on a 10-1 run. Kennis Mercer led they way during the run with five points, and Lindsey Motycka added three. The Lady Panthers fought back to get within four thanks to a free throw by Abby Pease and a three by Sierra McCullough, making the score 12-8. Crestview kept a four-point lead after one quarter, 15-11.

Paulding started the second quarter on a run. After two Crestview free throws by Motycka, the Lady Panthers got a three by Jerika Bland and a two by Abby Pease to get within one, 17-16, but the Lady Knights answered.

Crestview went on a 13-0 run in the middle of the quarter to help take a commanding 30-16 lead. Emily Bauer chipped in six points during the run, and sophomore Terra Crowle added five. The Lady Knights closed out the quarter to take a 32-18 lead into the locker room.

The Lady Panthers made one more run. With the score 38-18, Paulding went on a 9-0 spurt to get back in the game. Pease started the run with two free throws. Later, Bland hit a basket to make the score 38-22, then McCullough hit a three followed by a two to get the Lady Panthers within 11, 38-27.

Crestview proved to be too much, though, and closed the quarter out on a 9-0 run of its own. Mariah Henry led the charge with four points. The Knights maintained their lead in the fourth quarter, on their way to a 61-33 victory.

Crestview was led in scoring by Bauer, who had 17 points. Motycka was the only other Lady Knight in double figures, with 13 points. Mercer added eight points and Crowle came in off the bench and chipped in seven.

The win improves the Lady Knights to 12-1 overall, and keeps them perfect in the Northwest Conference with a 5-0 record.

"I thought we played in streaks. Offensively I thought we played pretty well for four quarters, but defensively I thought we had some spells where we didn't play very well," said Crestview coach Greg Rickard. "I thought the last quarter-and-a-half we played well defensively, but we had stretches where we allowed them to score in bunches and get back in the game. We have to make sure we clean that up.

Paulding was led in scoring by MuCullough and Pease, who both had eight points. Bland and Abbey Edwards each added five for the Lady Panthers.

The Lady Panthers fall to 4-9 on the season, and 0-5 in the NWC.

"It has been the same problem for us all season. We have been out rebounded in probably 90 percent of our games," said Pantehrs coach Lyndsi Schultz. "Coming in we knew how strong Crestview was inside, but we just don't have much size. There were a couple of times we were in perfect position, but we just couldn't stop them. They are an excellent team, but we just didn't respond like we needed to."